Operations Manager

We are a fast-growing better-for-you consumer snack company focused on creating high-quality products with better ingredients. As the business expands across retail and distribution channels, operations are becoming increasingly complex across order management, supply chain, procurement, production planning, logistics, inventory, forecasting, vendor management, and financial analysis.

We've teamed up with Handoff to bring on an Operations Manager who will take ownership of the day-to-day operational backbone of the business. This is a hands-on, highly autonomous role for someone who can manage complex workflows, anticipate issues before they become problems, improve systems and processes, and use data, technology, and AI to build a more efficient and scalable operation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Order Management & Logistics:

• Own the full order lifecycle from customer PO through fulfillment, delivery, invoicing, and issue resolution.

• Coordinate inventory allocation, EDI orders, shipping, routing, and delivery requirements across retailers, distributors, warehouses, carriers, and manufacturers.

• Manage parcel, LTL, and FTL shipments while proactively addressing shortages, delays, discrepancies, deductions, and other fulfillment issues.

• Identify opportunities to improve shipping efficiency and reduce freight costs.

Inventory, Production & Procurement:

• Manage inventory across finished goods, ingredients, raw materials, and packaging while maintaining appropriate reorder levels.

• Build demand and inventory forecasts and coordinate production runs based on open orders, lead times, inventory, and expected demand.

• Procure ingredients and packaging, manage supplier POs, and ensure materials arrive when needed for production.

• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, MOQs, lead times, and service expectations while holding vendors accountable for performance.

Financial & Operational Analysis:

• Build and maintain forecasts for sales, inventory, production requirements, purchasing, and cash needs.

• Analyze COGS, landed costs, gross margins, freight costs, pricing, promotional costs, and channel margins.

• Create pricing and margin models and evaluate how operational decisions affect profitability and working capital.

• Provide leadership with clear reporting and actionable recommendations based on operational and financial data.

Systems, AI & Process Improvement:

• Use ChatGPT, Claude, spreadsheets, automation, and other technology to analyze data, improve workflows, solve operational problems, and increase productivity.

• Continuously identify repetitive or inefficient processes and replace manual workarounds with more scalable systems.

• Create, document, and maintain SOPs for critical operational workflows.

• Learn and manage new systems independently, including CRM, accounting, EDI, inventory, retailer, distributor, and logistics platforms.

Vendor, Quality & Compliance Management:

• Build strong working relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, warehouses, freight providers, and other operational partners.

• Coordinate food safety and quality documentation, including COAs, product specifications, lot tracking, expiration dates, and traceability records.

• Support compliance with applicable FDA, retailer, distributor, and food safety requirements.

• Proactively identify quality, vendor, or operational risks and drive issues through resolution.

ABOUT YOU

• 5+ years of experience in operations, supply chain, logistics, procurement, or a related operational role.

• Strong hands-on experience with purchase orders, inventory management, procurement, production planning, logistics, and vendor management.

• Strong understanding of financial concepts including COGS, gross margin, P&L, inventory accounting, AP/AR, and cash flow.

• Strong forecasting, analytical, and quantitative skills with the ability to translate data into operational decisions.

• Advanced proficiency with Google Sheets or Excel, including formulas, lookups, pivot tables, financial models, and large datasets.

• Demonstrated professional use of AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude to improve productivity, analysis, and operational workflows.

• Highly organized and able to manage a large volume of tasks, emails, deadlines, and competing priorities.

• Strong problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to identifying issues and proposing solutions.

• Comfortable taking ownership, making decisions, and following through without constant oversight.

NICE TO HAVE

• Experience in food, beverage, CPG, or consumer products.

• Experience with QuickBooks, Salesforce, EDI systems, and other operational or financial platforms.

• Familiarity with inventory management systems, retailer portals, distributor portals, 3PL platforms, and shipping software.

• Experience negotiating with suppliers, manufacturers, freight providers, and other external vendors.

• Experience supporting food safety, quality documentation, traceability, or FDA-related compliance.

• Experience improving inventory turns, working capital efficiency, freight costs, or vendor performance.

• Experience building or automating operational workflows and scalable SOPs.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT

• Own the operational engine: You'll become the primary owner of day-to-day operations across a growing consumer business.

• Work across the entire supply chain: You'll have visibility and ownership across orders, inventory, production, procurement, logistics, vendors, and financial performance.

• Use AI as part of the job: Technology and automation are expected to be part of how you solve problems and improve operations.

• Build better systems: You'll have the opportunity to replace manual processes with scalable workflows and stronger operational infrastructure.

• Make financially informed decisions: Your work will directly influence margins, inventory investment, freight costs, working capital, and profitability.

• Operate with real autonomy: Leadership is looking for someone who can anticipate what needs to happen, take ownership, and ensure the details are handled without constant follow-up.